As most of you who read this are aware, I recently flew to Ohio to speak at a youth camp. I don't fly often so when I do I view it almost as a game.
Who am I going to sit by? What type of person will they be? Will I sit by a talker? A reader? A sleeper?
As each person enters the plane and begins walking toward me, I try to guess which one will actually stop and plop down next to me. Oh no, not the screaming baby. Please, not the screaming baby.
The game I play isn't just about the type of person I'll be traveling with...I also like to search for conversation starters. How can I get this person to join a conversation with me? Do we have anything in common? Is there anything about them I find interesting? Is there anything about me that they might find interesting? Is that fact that he closed his eyes and acted like he was asleep before he even sat down a sign that he just doesn't want to talk?
I'm not looking for just any conversation though. Since I don't fly often, I like to see if I can take any airplane conversation and turn it toward Jesus. Now I must admit, being a missionary/church planter gives me a little bit of an advantage. However, the trick is keeping the conversation going after I reveal what I do.
I did not fair so well in my little game on my three flights from Orizaba to Akron/Canton....but not for a lack of trying. My first flight I sat in a solo seat in the front row of the plane. My first opportunity to play came while standing in a ridiculously long customs line at the Charlotte airport. Most people don't fly alone so I was pretty much the only one in the line without a companion of some sort. I was going to have to force my way into a conversation...
The couple in front of me was talking to another couple that apparently they had met on their previous flight. I wasn't actually listening to their conversation but I did overhear them say they were headed home to Rhode Island. Rhode Island!? I lived in Rhode Island and have friends there. This was surely my in.
I asked them where they lived and mentioned that I had lived there for a few years. Within a few seconds, he dropped THE question: "So what do you do? Why did you live in Rhode Island?" There it is...no turning back now.
I excitedly shared that I had youth pastored in Rhode Island and that now I live in Mexico where I am a church planter. I was not ready for his response:
"Oh, I see."
Conversation dead. In fact, he did not speak another word to me for the next 30 minutes that he stood in front of me in the ridiculously long customs line.
My next chance to play my game came on my very next flight. The ridiculously long customs line had left me with only 7 minutes to claim my bag, recheck it, and run two terminals over in order to catch my flight. I wasn't the only one running. Another couple was obviously sharing my frustration in an attempt to catch the same flight. Wouldn't you know, we caught our flight and ended up sitting next to each other. (I think God likes my flying game too)
Starting a conversation was easy this time. It practically started itself while we were sprinting through the airport. I was frantically trying to catch my 3rd flight of the day; they were frantically trying to catch their flight home.
A few minutes into the conversation....BAM!.....the question:
"So, why are you going to Akron/Canton?"
"Oh, I'm a church planter and I've been invited to speak at a youth camp there this week."
"So...what? Are you coming to save us or something?"
I tried to give a wise answer and explain that I couldn't save anyone but I was coming to tell teenagers about the One who could save them. Honestly though, I think the question was rhetorical. He wasn't looking for an answer. After I ended my attempt at answering his question, the conversation died. 0-2 if you're keeping score.
At this point I'm thinking, "Wow, people just aren't as friendly as they used to be. I sure hope things go better than this at camp this week."
[Sidebar: Camp went great. 12 teenagers accepted Christ as their Savior!]
My final attempt at my little game came on my 2nd of 3 flights home. I took my seat in the middle of 3 seats and waited to see who my traveling partners would be. If nothing else, I'd have two attempts on this flight.
Passengers kept boarding and the plane was filling up, but no one was sitting next to me. At the last minute, just as they are about to close the doors, an employee of the airline boards the plane with his wife. The flight attendant asked me if I'd be willing to scoot over so that they could sit together. I said "No way! I want to sit in the middle." (Of course I'm joking....no one wants to sit in the middle)
The husband sat down next to me and immediately introduces himself. This was the easiest conversation of all because I didn't even have to start it! As expected, within about 2 minutes, he asked the question I was waiting for: "So what do you do in Mexico?"
I explained to him that I had moved to Mexico in order to start a church in Orizaba. The conversation took an unexpected turn. He was very interested and ready to talk.
For most of that 3 1/2 hour flight, we talked about Jesus, the Bible, other religions, church and what happens when we die. He was very knowledgeable and had obviously learned a lot about the Bible and religion. Very early in our conversation, I asked him point blank if he believed in God and he, without hesitation, said that he did not.
He willingly lead the conversation. He asked many questions about how could God punish good people, and why would God allow us to choose whether or not to believe and then punish us for our decision. He shared stories of past experiences he had with people who had tried to "convert" him. He shared about conversations he had had with a Jehovah's Witness and a Muslim. Each time he would follow his story with a question and anticipate how I would answer.
I wasn't trying to convert him. I wasn't trying to make him believe. I was just trying to tell him about Jesus. At one point in our conversation, he confessed, "You're very good. There is something different about you."
As our flight was coming to an end, I encouraged him to continue to search for truth. I told him that I could see he was curious and searching for answers. I even explained that I believe that God is pulling him toward Himself. (He chuckled at that one, but I believe it) It was obvious that he knows there is something more out there....he just isn't there yet.
I gave him all my contact information and invited him to come see us in Orizaba....that perhaps we could even continue this conversation. He seemed very interested and even said that I should expect to hear from him. (I really hope I do hear from him)
Obviously, I'd love to be writing right now that this man prayed right there on the plane and accepted Christ as his Savior but he didn't. He just wasn't there yet. I don't know why....I'm not sure what all he's been through or what is holding him back. I even walked away thinking that maybe I should have said something different or pushed him a little more to make a decision right then....
Today, I was reading the book that I'm currently on and I came across this:
"We have to remember, we do our part, others do their part, and God does His. We're never the answer; Jesus always is. You don't fail if the Spirit prompts you to ask someone to follow Christ and the person doesn't. You fail when the Spirit prompts you but you're afraid to ask. Don't blame yourself if someone rejects Jesus. That's putting yourself in God's place. And the flip side of that attitude is the temptation to take credit when someone accepts Jesus. Outreach is a team event. You might be just one of four. Your position might be pray-er. Or conversationalist. Or simply love-of-Jesus-style good-doer. God might put you in for the first quarter, then bench you while others perform their specialties. You do your part. Let others do theirs. And watch God do his."
Wow. Thank you Lord, for reminding me that I may only play a small part in this man's coming to know you. Thank you for allowing me to be a "conversationalist" in his life. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk to someone about who you are.
I realize that this, like the customs line, is ridiculously long. Truth is, I think I wrote this one more for me than for anyone else. If by the off chance you are still reading this though, I would ask that you join me in praying for this man as he searches for truth; that one day, he will find what he is looking for and that he will find peace in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
His name is Roberto.
May we meet again someday Roberto.
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